Driver who hit pedestrian in Newton facing charges

Photo by Kyle Morel/New Jersey Herald - Emergency personnel, pictured on Route 94, assist a person who was struck by a vehicle near the intersection with Church Street in Newton Wednesday.

Photo by Cristy Carlson/New Jersey Herald - Police investigate the scene where a pedestrian was struck in Newton near the corner of High and Church streets Wednesday.

Photo by Kyle Morel/New Jersey Herald - Police officers, pictured on Route 94 at the intersection with Church Street, work at the scene of an accident where a pedestrian was struck in Newton Wednesday.

Photo by Cristy Carlson/New Jersey Herald - Emergency personnel work at the scene of a motor-vehicle accident involving a pedestrian in Newton near the intersection of High and Church streets.

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The 70-year-old Newton pedestrian, Michael Bencivenga, was critically injured as a result of the impact but his condition is "improving" as he recovers at Morristown Medical Center, Richards said.

Around 2:26 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to the intersection of Church and High streets after the Newton Police Department received multiple reports of the incident.

Photo by Daniel Freel/New Jersey Herald - Damage to a headlight and the windshield was visible on a Toyota SUV following a motor-vehicle accident involving a pedestrian Wednesday.

Officers responding to the scene found Bencivenga lying on the ground unresponsive.

Kern and his vehicle were also at the scene, as he had stopped after striking Bencivenga.

An investigation determined that Bencivenga had parked his vehicle in the First Presbyterian Church of Newton's parking lot, had walked to the crosswalk and began to head across High Street toward the southbound side when he was struck by the SUV driven by Kern, Richards said. The impact caused damage to the vehicle's left headlight and the windshield.

Bencivenga was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center with injuries to his head and the sides of his body, police said.

Kern remained at the scene as police conducted their investigation and a portion of High Street was closed for approximately 45 minutes following the incident.

Lori Comstock can also be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.